Two radio stations in Israel initially reported Netanyahu had secretly flown to Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

When asked about the meeting itself on Monday, Netanyahu wasn't willing to give away specifics.

Are you serious friends?

Throughout my years, I've never commented on such things and I don't intend to start doing so now.

I can only tell you that, really.

Throughout my years as prime minister, I didn't spare any effort to strengthen the state of Israel and to expand the circle of peace on thank God we managed to do it with our neighbors with the Emirates, with Bahrain with Sudan on, I hope the circle will always expand.

And Saudi Arabia's foreign minister added some further mystery by denying reports that a meeting even took place.

Pompeo has been leaning on Saudi Arabia to follow the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on established formal relations with Israel.

The reconciliation between Israel and the Gulf states is largely built on a shared concern about Iran are potentially whether US President elect Joe Biden will wind back Washington's regional policies.